Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, XI+12-14; A, III+10-11; P, 13-15; V, I+5; LL, 48-51  photo : J. Ben Souissi

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body deep and compressed. Terminal mouth at the lower part of head with distinct lips. Jaws extend back to vertical of center of eye. At the anterior of each jaw 4-6 string compressed teeth, followed by 4-6 rows of molar teeth. A single dorsal fin, the 3rd spine is the longest. The 2nd anal fin spine the longest. Caudal fin forked. Pectoral fin pointed. Pelvic fin rounded. Ctenoid scales cover the entire body and head including the base of dorsal and anal fins. color : body silver-grey. Two vertical black bars on the head, the anterior runs through the eye and the posterior from the nape through the posterior edge of the operculum. Dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins yellow. Anal and pelvic fins dark grey to black. size : common 5-40 cm (max. 50 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Diplodus vulgaris: black band touching the origin of dorsal fin; annular band on the caudal peduncle; no yellow fins. Diplodus cervinus, Diplodus sargus and Pagrus auriga: vertical bars on the body. Other sparids: no vertical bars. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds mainly on mollusks and to a lesser extent on other benthic invertebrates. habitat : shallow waters in open areas and near coral and rocks. Eggs and larvae planktonic. Juveniles found in shallow sandy shores, using it as a  nursery ground.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD 2009, Tunisia. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific. Mediterranean : a single specimen from Tunisia. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean but considered as an important commercial species in its original distribution countries. Some experiments were conducted to assess its suitability for mariculture.

KEY REFERENCES Iwatsuki Y. and Heemstra P.C., 2011. A review of the Acanthopagrus bifasciatus species complex (Pisces: Sparidae) from the Indian Ocean, with redescriptions of A. bifasciatus (Forsskål 1775) and A. catenula (Lacepède 1801). Zootaxa, 3025: 38-50. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002